Cotton-press.



No.. 652,383. Patented June 26, |900. W. T. CALTUN. coTToN PRESS.

(Application Bled Nov. 13, 1899.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets--Sheet 2.

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W. T. CALTN.

COTTON PRESS.

v(Application led Nov. 13, 1899.) v

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No. 652,333. Patented June 26, |900. W. T. CALTUN. ooTTN PRESS.

(Application filed Nov. 13, 1699.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4,

(No Model.)

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COTTON PRESS.

(Application Bled Nov. 13, 1899.)

Patented lune 26, |9004. l

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

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ENT

VILLTAM THOMAS OALTON, OF

LATTIMORE, NORTH CAROLINA.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 4raam; No. 652,383, dated Junepplication iiled November 13, 1899. Serial No. 736,915. (Ilo model.)l

fo all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that II, .WILLIAM THOMAS CAL- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Latti more, in the county of Cleveland and State ofNorth Carolina, have invented a new and useful Ootton-Oo1np'ress, ofwhich the followingis aspecification.. Y p

My rinvention relates to improvements in cotton-com presses of thatclass which are used in connection With lint-condensing and `batformingdevices to secure the formation of the lintcotton into a bat previous tocompressing the latter continuouslyinto a bale.

One object of this invention is to compress a continuous hat oflint-cotton into the size of compressed or commercial bales at theginnery Where the cotton is ginued, thereby securing cheapertransportation and saving the cost of shipping the cotton to therlargecompresses and also saving the expenseof unloading the cotton,recompressing, and reloading, and, furthermore, covering the cotton tobetter advantage and protecting the same from dirtand Waste in handling.The cotton is delivered tothe press from a condenser and battermechanism in a smooth bat and is pressed in that condition into thebale, each layer as it comes from the condenser separately passingthrough and undersmooth rollers that straighten out the ber of thecotton instead of crumpling it, as in the common method,therebyimproving the lint of the. cotton. The cotton will open up to betteradvantage inthe opening-room,because the cotton is in smooth layersacross the bale. The ginning and baling ot' the cotton are effected atone operation Without the aid of a man to do the packing, so that whenthe ginning is completedthe cotton is baled, covered, and tied previousto its discharge from the press in a compressed andV commercial bale.

A further object that I have in View is to provide an eflicient andcomparatively-simple construction of press mechanism by which thecotton-bat as it comes from the condenser may be arranged inv layers andsubjected to the necessary compression at one continuous operation forthe production of cotton-bales of cubical shape having the contents in acompact condition.

A further Objectis to provide an improved bale-platen resisting orpressure mechanism l operable in unison With the bat laying and foldingmechanism and rolls for subjecting the embryonic bale to pressure fromabove and b eloW, such iniproved mechanism being adapted to utilize theenergy of a compressed motive liuid to attain the necessary pressure.

l A further object is to provide means controllable by the pressure andresisting mechanism and Working in coperation with thebat-feedingfdevices to effect the folding or creasing of the continuouscotton-bat at regular and predetermined intervals, whereby the bat maybeisuperposed in strata of uniform length and Width and all the edges ofthe bale are brought into flush relation, to the end that the bale maypresent a uniform appearance on all sides thereof.

Further objects of the invention are to provide improved means forreducing the speed or travel of the carriage and pressure mechanism ascompared with the speed of the prime motor, to provide for themaintenance of the pressure-fluid constantly in the movable element ot`the pressure mechanism not- Withstandin g the travel thereof, and toreduce the friction and Wear on certain elements of the pressuremechanism.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combinationof mechanisms and in the peculiar construction, arrangement, andadaptation of the various parts for service, as will be hereinafterfully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated apreferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and in Which l Figure l is a verticallongitudinal sectional elevation through a cotton-compress oflargecapacity embodying niyinventi'on andshowing al condenser and batter inoperative relation thereto, the plane of section of the compress beingindicated by the dotted line 1 l of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional planview through the cotton-compress, taken in the 4plane of the dotted line2 2- on Fig. l,certain of the parts being indicated in dotted lines.Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation through thecotton-compress, taken in the plane of the dott-ed line 3 3 of Fig. llookwith the pressure- IOO carriage. Figs.- 6 and 7 are detailsectionalv elevations of parts of the press-frame, the two series ofpressure-rolls, the bale-forming mechanism, and the bat folding orcreasing mechanism, Fig. 6 illustra-ting the operative position of onebat folding and creasing mechanism and Fig. 7 representing the other batfolding and creasing mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View ofthe devices forming a part of one bat folding and creasing mechanism.Fig. 9 is a detail longitudinal section through a shiftable 'tubularshaft 'which is driven by the main power-shaft of "the machine. Figs. 10and 11 are Views in side elevation and plan, respectively, of another'embodiment of the invention adapted to be utilized in the constructionof presses of smaller capacity.

each of the several figures of the drawings.

ism of the press. Within this frame is slidably su ppo'rted areciprocatory carriage 16, in which is mounted a vertically-movablebalepiaten 1v. ment of this bale-platen are two series `ofpressure-rolls 18 19, which are mounted in the press-frame, so as to liein the same horizontal plane, one set of pressure-rolls being 'on onesideof the plane of feed of the cottonbat to the bale-platen and theother set of pressure-rolls being on the lopposite sidel of the plane offeed of said cotton-bat. The

compress of my invention is used in connection with a lint-cottoncondenser and batter` mechanism, and between this condenser andl'thepressure-rolls of the compress is arranged l a pair ofbat-condensing rolls 20, the latter serving also to guide the cotton-batbetween the inner members of the two sets of horizontally-disposedpressure-rolls l1S 19.

The reciprocatory carriage which I em ploy in 'the construction of mycotton-compress is shown in detail by Fig. et of the drawings and Thiscarriage is of suby, stan'tial construct-ion to withstand the Weight.and pressure ofthe cotton-bale during its formation, and said carriageconsists of the baseg *ra-ils 21, 4the cross-rails 22, and the posts 23i24, all p these parts being joined firmly to` 'get'he'rto produce askeleton carriage, within:y which are arranged the bale-platen 17 andthe g 'pressure mechanism therefor. The posts 23' also in Figs. 1 and 3.

Above the limit of, upward move- 24 are disposed on opposite sides ofthe car'- riage and the press-frame, and said posts support thehorizontal rack-bars 25, which are adapted to travel with the carriage,said rackbars serving as the means for rotating the two sets ofpressure-rolls 1S 19. A supportingplate 26 for the pressure-cylinder ofthe baleplaten is fastened securely to the cross-rails 22 of theslidable carriage, and the space between the platen and thecylinder-supporting plate is closed at the ends of the carriage by thedoors 27, the latter being hinged at 28 to the cross-rails 22 of thecarriage. These doors are adapted to be normally raised to the positionsshown by Fig. 1, so as to form, in connection with the bale-platen, thebalingchamber of the press, said doors being held in their raisedposition by any suitable means. The base-rails 21 of the reciprocatoryvcarriage support the carrying rollers or wheels 29, which are adaptedto the track-rails 30 on the base-sills of the press-frame, and thecarriage is thus mounted to travel within the press-frame with minimumfrictional engagement therewith.r

The carriage supports the pressure mechanism that is adapted to resistor oppose the downward movement of the bale-platen, and this pressuremechanism utilizes a motive fluid which is constantly supplied theretoso The same numerals of reference are usedk to indicate like andcorresponding parts in` as to exert pressure in an upward direction onthe bale-platen for the purpose of forcing said platen toward thepressure-rolls, where- The press-frame 15 may be of any suit-able Iconstruction to sustain the working mechan by vthe platen and thepressure-rolls subject the cotton-bat as the layers thereof increase in'number to the proper degree 'of compression in order to form a compactbale. This pressure mechanism includes a cylinder 31, which is securedfirmly to 'the supportingplate 26 `and depends therefrom. Within thiscylinder is fitted a piston 32, having its stem or rod 33 extendedthrough a suitable opening in the supporting-plate, asshown by Fig. et,the upper extremity of the piston stem `or rod being fastened to thebale-platen in any suitable way. y

The motive 4fluid to be supplied continuously tothe pressure-cylindermay be in the form of steam, air, or water, and the pipe by which rthisfiuid is supplied to the lower end 'of the pressure-cylinder is ofsectional con- 1 movement of the pressure-cylinder with thereciprocatory carriage. A horizontal length 34. of this pipeis coupledcentrally to the lower end of Ithe pressure-cylinder 31, and to theouter end of this branch of the pipe is united an elbow which connects avertical branch pipe 35 with said horizontal length. This verticalbranch of the pipe is in two sections, to one of which is firmly secureda coupling 36, in the-open end of which is screwed a gland 42, thusforming a swiveled couplingin `the vertical branch 35 of thepressure-pipe. Another horizontal length 37 37 ofthe pressurel'IOstaccaI s pipe is connected with a member of the vertical branch 35 ofsaid pipe by means of an elbow, and this secondary sectional length ofhorizontal pipe is connected by an elbow 40 with the vertically-disposedsupply-pipe 39, the latter occupying a fixed position at one side of thepress. A swiveled coupling 4l is between the elbow 40 and thesupply-pipe 39,'

and the two swiveled couplings 36 4l in the vertical branches of thepressure-pipe are arranged to permit the free turning ofthe horizontallengths of pipe 34 and 37 37a, so as to operatively connect thepressure-cylinder with the supply-pipe at all points in the travel ofsaid cylinder with the reciprocatory carriage. The vertical swiveledcouplings 36 4l are united to a part of the vertical pipes by threadedjoints, and in the open threaded ends of these couplings are screwed theglands 42, the latter serving to compress a packing43 against an annularcollar 44 ona member of the vertical branch or pipe, whereby each jointis constructed to permit of the free turning on a vertical axis of onepart of the pipe with relation to the other part ot' the pipe, and atthe same time endwise movement of the parts is restricted and theImotive fluid is prevented from leaking. The Vhorizontal sectionallengths of the pipe between the two vertical joints are connectedslidably together to permit of automatic extension and contraction ofthe pipe without leakage ofthe motive fluid. The coupling 38 is screwedfirmly to the branch or member 37, and in its open end is screwed thegland 46, which surrounds the member 37, the latter extending for aconsiderable distance into the elongated coupling 3S. A packing 47 isinterposed between the coupling, the pipe member 37, and the gland, soas to be compressed by the latter to make a duid-tight joint around thepipe 37, whereby the latter may be capable of a limited sliding movementin the coupling without leakage of the motive iiuid. t

It is to be observed that the pressure-supply pipe 39 is in a fixedvertical position at one side of the press, that the carriage whichsupports the bale-cotton on the pressure-cylinder is reciprocatory in arectilinear path within the press, and thatthe jointed and sectionallengths or branches connect the pressure-cylinder with this verticalfixed pipe 39. As the pressure-cylinder reciprocates with the carriageand passes the central position occupied by the pipe 39 the verticaljoints permit the corresponding branches to turn, while the extensiblehorizonal length is drawn outward longitudinally when the carriageapproaches the limit of its travel in either direction. Thecommunication between the pressure-cylinder and the pressuresupply pipethus remains continuous and unbroken throughout the travel of thecarriage and without leakage of the motive liuid, and thus the pressureis maintained constantly in the cylinder and against the piston-head,

so as to force the bale-platen in a direction within the baling-chamberafforded by the platen and the doors 27.

The main power-shaft of the press :is indicated at 48 as j ournaled insuitable bearings at one end of the press-frame in a horizontal positiontransversely across the frame. This shaft is equipped with adriving-pulley 49, around which may pass a suitable belt (not shown)driven from a line-shaft or other suitable source of power. ThereciprocatorjT carriage which supports the baling mechanism is designedto be propelled slowly and steadily beneath the two sets ofpressurerolls, and this carriage is moved back and forth below first oneset and then the other of said pressure-rolls. To obtain the powernecessary for the operation of the press, it is required that the shaft4S shall be driven at comparatively-high speed; but as the carriage isto be moved slowly and back and forth below the pressure-rolls l haveprovided a novel form or type of reversible speed-reducing mechanismbetween the main power-shaft and the reciprocatOry carriage. One elementof the speed-reducing and reversible gearing is a shiftable tubularshaft 50, the length of which is less than that of the main power-shaft,so as to be tted thereon between the bearings and to be capable of alimited sliding movement. This tubular shaft is connected at all timeswith the main power-shaft to rotate therewith by a key or spline at 51,which will insure the necessary adjustment of the tubular shaft and itsrotation with the power-shaft. this shiftable shaft is provided withcollars forming an intermediate groove 52, adapted for the reception ofa shifting leve-r, and said shaft is furthermore provided with thefrictional driving-cones 53 54, which are fast with the shaft andarranged in reversed positions thereon, so as to face each other, saidcones being spaced at a suitable distance one from the other toaccommodate between themselves a driven cone on a horizontalcountershaft 55. This counter-shaf t is arranged longitudinally in thepress-frame, so as to be journaled in suitable bearings and to take aposition at right angles to the shafts 48 50. Said counter-shaft isprovided at its front end with a friction-cone 56 and at its rear endwith a spur gear-wheel 57, said cone being of large diameter as comparedwith the drivingcones and arranged between the latter so as to engagefrictionally therewith alternately. The adjustment of the tubular shaft`in one direction for the driving-cone 53 to engage frictionally withthe driven cone 56 serves to rotate the shaft 55 in one direction and ata reduced speed as compared with the speed of the shaft 48; but theadjustment of the tubular shaft 5() in the opposite direction forthedriving-cone 54 to engage frictionally with the ICO IIO

cone 56 drives the shaft 55 in the opposite direction and also at lessspeed than the shaft 48. This counter-shaft 55 serves to rotate thepressure-screws 58 59 at uniform speed through the medium ofintermediate gearing which serves to still further reduce the speed ofthe press,so that while the screws are driven at uniform speed they willrotate at a considerably lower rate of speed than the shaft 55. Thesepressure-screws are arranged longitudinallyof the press on oppositesides of the counter-shaft, said screws having threaded engagement withthe traveling feed-nuts 60 61, which are made fast with the lower sideof the carriage. The rear ends of the pressure-screws are j ournaledloosely in bearings 62 at the rear part of the press; but the front endsof the shafts protrude beyond the bearing 62, so as to receive the spurgear-wheels 67, which intermesh with the spur gear-pinion 57 on thecounter-shaft, thus driving both of the screws from the counter-shaftand at uniform speed. To firmly hold the pressurescrews against endwisemovement and permit the same to rotate freely with minimum frictionWithin the press-frame, I employ an antifriction-bearing for each screw.A pair of cross-rails 63 64 are secured firmly to the press-frame beyondthelimit of the travel of the carriage in a forward direction, and tothe opposing faces of these rails are secured the pairs of concavewear-plates 65,' said rails and Wear-plates being perforated for thepassage therethrough of the pressure-screws. Beal'- ing-balls 66 aremade fast with the pressurescrews and engage loosely with thewearplates, so as to form a species of ball-bearing between thepress-frame and the pressurescrews, said bearing-balls and the fixedwearplates serving to take u p the end thrust of the pressure-screws.

I have also provided mechanism for automatically shifting the positionof the tubular shaft 50 as the carriage reaches its limit of travel ineither direction for the purpose of connecting the frictionaldriving-gear to aumatically reverse the direction of rotation of thecounter-shaft and the pressure-screws, so as to propel the carriage backand forthwithout requiring adjustment on the part of the attendant.Ashipping-rod 68 is slidably confined for endwise movement in suitablefixed guides 69 on the frame, and this rod is provided with spacedtrip-arms 70 71, which project outwardly from the rod and into the pathof a part of the carriage, the latter adapted to engage with one or theother of the said arms as it reaches the limit of its movement in onedirection or the other for the purpose of giving an endwise movementalternately in opposite directions to the shipping-rod. The bell-crankshipping-lever 72 is f ulcrumed at 73 to a part of the press-frame, oneend of said lever being connected pivotally at 74 to the shipping-rodand the other end of said lever having a fork 75 engaging loosely withthe collar 52 of the tubular shaft 50.

I may employ a suitable tension device to hold the shipping-rod inposition against displacement by the jarring of the press-such, forexample, as the counterweighted lever 7G, which is fulcrumed on thepress-frame and is connected pivotally with the shipping-rod.

-(See Fig. l.)

The bat condensing and feed rollers 2O are journaled for free rotationin bearing-blocks 77, so as to occupy positions immediately over thecentral rolls of the two sets of pressurerolls 18 19, and are adapted tofeed the condensed cotton-bat through a space between the two sets ofrolls, as clearly shown by Figs. 1, 6, and 7. These condensing and feedrolls are intergeared directly together for rotation in oppositedirections by the intermeshing gears 78, one of said rolls having thesprocketwheel 7 9 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1) on the endopposite to its gear 78. With this sprocket-gear 79 engages asprocket-chain 80, also indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and partlyby dotted lines in Fig. 2, said sprocketchain 80 engaging with asprocket-wheelv 81 on one end of the intermediate shaft 82. (See dottedlines in Fig. 2.) The intermediate shaft 82 is shown in full lines byFig. l as journaled in bearings on the press frame above the maindriving-shaft 48, and the shaft 82 has a sprocket-gear 83 connected byan intermediate chain '84 to the sprocketgear 85 on the mainpower-shaft48, thus driving the bat condensing and feed rolls by gearconnections with the main power-shaft and at reduced speed.

The pressure-rolls constituting the two sets 18 19 are spaced atsuitable intervals one from the other, so as to be out of contact, andeach roll is provided with spur gear-pnions 86 at the ends thereof, saidgear pinions adapted to mesh with the gear-racks 25 on the slidablecarriage, so that the traveling carriage imparts the necessary rotarymotion to the pressure-rolls.

I will now proceed to describe the bat creasing` or folding mechanism,which consists of two independent vibratory plates 87 88, together withdevices for automatically depressing the plates alternately as thecarriage reciprocates to and fro below the two sets of pressure-rolls,said vibratory plates being alternately projected through the throat orspace between the sets of pressure-rolls for the purpose of creasing andfolding the cotton-bat at regular and predetermined intervals. Eachvibratory plate is carried by a pair of arms 89, that is disposed overthe pressure-rolls of one set, and this plate and its arms are connectedby links 90 with the press-frame, so as to make the plate travel in anarc of a circle through the space between the two sets of rolls. Thearms carrying each plate are connected pivotally at 91 with the upperends of levers 92, which are hung or fulcrumed at 93on suitable parts ofthe press-frame, said levers having their free ends disposed inthe pathof the carriage IIO or the racks 25 thereon. The levers are drawn topositions for raising the vibratory creasing-plate by means of springs94, and, as shown by Fig. 8 of the drawings, each lever is provided withan inwardlyextending ,arm 95, extending into the path of the slidablerack on the carriage. It is to be understood that the cotton-bat issupplied continuously from the condenser to the press by the bat-rolls20 and that the carriage reciprocates to move the bale-platen 17 belowthe pressure-rolls 18 19 alternately. As the carriage reaches the limitof its travel in one direction, as shown by Fig. 6, and beforeit beginsthe return movement in the direction indicated by the arrow in saidfigure the racks on the carriage strike against the levers 92, so as tomove the latter against the tension of the springs 94:, and therebydepress the creasingplate 88, so as' to bear forcibly against thecotton-bat for the purpose of forming a crease or fold therein. When thecarriage travels in the direction of the arrow, the spring conneotedwith the levers of the plate 88 serves to instantly return the parts totheir normal position and thereby retract the plate 88 from the throatbetween the rolls. As the carriage moves from the rolls 19 to a positionbeneath the rolls 18 its racks strike against the levers 92of the plate87 at the period that the carriage reaches the limit of its travelbeneath the rolls 18, as indicated by Fig. 7. At this period the levers92 are moved against the tension of the spring 94, so as to depress thecreasing-plate 87 into the throat between the two sets of rolls, andthis creasing-plate is thus automatically brought into position forservice to form the crease or fold in the continuous cotton-bat beforethe carriage begins itsreturn movement in the direction of the arrowinFig. 7. As the carriage travels beneath the rolls the folding orcreasing plates are maintained in their raised positions and on oppositesides ot' the path of feed of the cotton-bat; but as Vthe carriageapproaches its limit of travel in either direction one or the other ofthe creasing-plates is automatically and positively depressed intoengagement with the cotton-bat for the purpose of forming the creases orfolds therein at regular and predetermined intervals, whereby the layersof the cotton-bat are of uniform length and width, so that the edges ofall the layers are iush tomake the bale when complet-ed of regularcubical form.

In Fig. 1 ot' the drawings I have illustrated one style of the condenserwhich I have invented for use in connection with the compress of largecapacity herein shown and described; but no claim is made in thisapplication for this condenser, because it will be made thesubject-matter of a separate application. i

The cotton from the gins is delivered to a condenser-flue 96, whichdischarges the lintcotton to a condenser-casing 97, having theflint-Iiue 98 therein. The chamber of this condenser-casing has itsbottom formed in part `by a screen 99, which may be of perforatedlint-cotton across the strips on the screen-bottom, whereby the cottonis freedfrom dust and dirt, which is free to pass `through the screen,and the bers of the cotton are straightened out instead of crumpling thecotton. A screened cylinder 103 is journaled in the casing at a pointcontiguous to the end of the screen-bottom, so `as to receive thelint-cotton from the whipping-cylinder, and this screencylinder isrotated in a direction to discharge the lint-cotton against a roll 105,a hood 104 being arranged over the screen-cylinder to confine thelint-cotton in the passage98. The roll 105 is driven in a direction tocoact with the cylinder 103 for the purpose of preliminarily condensingthe cotton into a bat and discharging the latter upon a conveyer-apron106. Said apron is supported at one end by a roller 107, that lies belowthe roll 105, the other end of said apron passing around a roller 108,that is arranged over the bat-rollers 20 ot' the press to deliver thecotton-bat thereto.

The operation of the invention as thus far described is as follows: Thecotton-bat from the condenser is delivered to the rolls 20, the carriageis reciprooated slowly below the sets of pressure-rolls 18 19, and themotive iiuid is supplied to the pressure-cylinder, so as to raise thebale-platform 17 into close relation. to or contact with thepressure-rolls. As the carriage moves below the set of rolls 19 in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 1 the rolls are rotated by the racks onthe carriage, so as to draw the cotton-bat into the space between theplaten and the rolls, thus subjecting the bat to compression. When thecarriage reaches the limit ot' its travel below the rolls 19, thecreasing-plate 88 is depressed to fold the bat and the shipping-rod 68is actuated to move the tubular shaft 50 endwise, and thereby reversethe carriage. As the carriage travels in the opposite direction therollers 19 compress the next layer of the cotton-bat upon the layerspreviously resting on the baleplaten, the creasing-plate 88 beingautomatically retracted, and the carriage now continues to travel, so asto move beneath the rolls 18, the cotton-bat being continuously laidupon the platen. Vhen the carriage assumes the position below the rolls18, the levers are actuated to depress the plate 87 to form a crease orfold in the bat and at the same time the .shipping-rod is moved endwiseto again reverse the driving mechanism for the carriage.

IOC

IIO

IIS

This operation is continued indefinitely until the desired quantity ofthe cotton shall have accumulated to complete the bale; but during theaccumulation of layers the downward movement of the bale-platen isresisted by the compressed motive fluid in the pressure-cylinder,whereby the platen coacts with Y the rolls in exerting the pressure onthe layers of the cotton-bat, so as to compact the latter into acompressed bale. Before beginning the operation it is my purpose toplace a part of the bale-cover on the platen, and when the bale attainsa proper size the eX- posed part thereof is covered by a suitableWrapper and the ties are adj usted, after which the outer door 27 isopened to permit the ejection of the bale at the rear end of the press.The platen may now be elevated and the operations heretofore describedrepeated.

The press shown by Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings is modified somewhatin its construction by the substitution of a different type ofspeed-reducing mechanism for the reciprocation of the carriage;but'while this press may or may not be used in connection with thecondenser it embodies the essential features of the inventionhereinbefore described-namely, the bat-rolls, the two series ofpressure-rolls, the carriage, the pressure mechanism for the platen, andthe bat folding or creasing mechanism-although for want of room andclearness of illustration I have omitted to illustrate the bat-rolls andthe folding or creasing devices, as well as the sec-tional pipe forconveying the motive Huid to the pressure mechanism. In the embodimentshown the main power-shaft 110 is connected by a belt 113 to aspeed-reducing shaft 111, and this last-named shaft has sprocketgearing114,with another speed-reducin g shaft 112,all of said shafts bein g journaled in proper bearings on the frame. The crank-shaft 115 isconnected by sprocket-gearing 116 to the shaft 112, and said shaft 115is provided with the crank-disks 117. These disks carry the wrist-pins118, to which are pivotally connected the pitmen 119, disposed onopposite sides of the press-frame and connected pivotally with the sidesof the carriage at 120. An intermediate shaft 121 is journaled inbearings on the frame, and one end of this shaft has sprocket-gearconnections 122 with the crank-shaft 115, while the other end of thisintermediate shaft is connected by sprocket-gearing 123 to one of thepair of bat condensing and feed rolls. The operation of the press shownby Figs. 10 and l1 is essentially the same as the press heretoforedescribed, and it is thought that the operation will be readilyapparent.

Changes within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the formand proportion of some of the parts while their essential features areretained and the spirit of the invention is embodied. Hence I do notdesire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown,reserving the right to vary therefrom.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In acotton-compress, the combination with a reciprocatory carriage, abale-forming mechanism, and a bat-feeding mechanism, of levers disposedat the opposite limits of travel of the carriage, swinging supportsconnected with said levers and pivotally mounted for f movement withrelation to the path of feed of said bat, and creasing elements carriedby said supports, substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-compress, the combination with a reci procatory carriage,and a bat-feeding mechanism, of a platen and a pressure mechanismtherefor' mounted on the carriage, pressure-rolls in opposing relationto the platen, swinging supports equipped with batfolding devices andpivotally mounted to move the latter into a feed throat or space betweensaid rolls, and devices for alternately actuating the swinging supports,substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-press, the combination, with a reciprocatory carriage anda series of rolls in fixed bearings, and engaged and rotated by saidreciprocatory carriage, of screw-shafts in fixed bearings, toreciprocate said carriage, a counter-shaft geared to said screw-shafts,a power-shaft, reversing-gears connecting said power-shaft to saidcounter-shaft, an actuating-rod, operable by the carriage, at the limitsof the strokes of the latter, and a weighted rock-arm pivoted at a fixedpoint, and con-` nected to said actuating-rod, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a cotton-compress, the combination with a reciprocatory carriagehaving a feednut, of pressure-screws provided with bearing-balls andconnected with said feed-nut, bearings in fixed relation to and inengagement with said bearing-balls to take up the end thrust of saidscrews, and means for rotating the pressure-screws, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a cotton-press, the combination, with a series ofcompressing-rolls in fixed bearings, and spaced at the center of theseries to form a feed-throat, a reciprocating carriage forming abale-chamber, having a platen and actuating means therefor,and alsoengaged with and adapted to rotate the compression-rolls, and thebat-creasing devices, operable in the feed-throat in the series ofcompression-rolls, and means to cause said creasing devices to operatein the feed-throat, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a cotton-press, of a series of compressing-rolls,spaced at the center of the series to form a feed-throat, areciprocatory carriage, for the purpose set forth, pivoted bat-creasingdevices, operable in the throat of the series of compression- IOO my ownI have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM THOMAS CALTON.

rolls, rook-arms, disposed in the path of the carriage and operatedthereby; and links connecting said rock-arms to said pivotedbettereasing devices, to canse the latter to operate in the feed-throat,substantially as and for Witnesses:

the purpose set forth. JOHN S. -WRAY, In testimony that I claim theforegoing as F. L. I-IOYLE.

